FULOKOJA Department of Linguistics & African Languages Takes Bold Step to Document Ọ́sáyin Language in Ogori-Magongo, Kogi State

As part of its mandates, the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Federal University Lokoja, has taken another bold step to document Osayin, the language spoken by the people of Magongo in Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Leading over 100 students of the 300 Level of the Department on the Research Field Trip were the Head of the Department, Dr. Tosin Olagunju, and the Field Trip Coordinator, Dr. Mayowa Oyinloye, who were warmly welcomed into the cool speech community of Magongo on Thursday, 28 August 2025, for the rigorous academic exercise that lasted until Sunday, 31 August 2025.

It was the utmost joy of Father Leo Michael, the proprietor of Lumen Christi Academy, Magongo, who welcomed the students and their lecturers to his private school, providing them with accommodation in the boarding facilities of the school. Sighting a nursing mother among the students, the Padre was moved and gifted the student and her baby the sum of ten thousand naira and provided special accommodation for her. That was not enough. The man of God made available a bottle of soft drink for each of the 106 students in attendance.

Earlier, the executive of Magongo Development Association (MDA) and some high chiefs in the community had received the researchers. Speaking on behalf of the National President of MDA, Prince Jordan Akpata, the National Vice President, Mr. James Boyi, expressed the Association’s gratitude to the students and the entire management staff of FUL for choosing Magongo as the field of research for this year. Also present at the event was an illustrious son of the speech community, Mr Emmanuel Ikpelemoh, a lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Federal University Lokoja, who also facilitated the trip.

The 4-day research visit to Magongo saw the students working on the Osayin language with particular focus on... Read more in the comment section